Illustrative image (Source: AFP/Getty Images)In his opening speech to nationaldefence chiefs, international security experts from 40 countries, includingVietnam, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said there is concern inthe region that the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and theParis climate accord would lead to Washington retreating from globalleadership.
He said the region wants to see Chinatake a more responsible leadership role, adding that Beijing could play a keyrole in reining in the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear andmissile programmes.
On June 3, US Secretary of DefenceJames Mattis said in his keynote speech that the US can’t accept Chineseactions that impinge on the interests of the international community,undermining the rules-based order that has benefited all countries.
“We oppose countries militarisingartificial islands and enforcing excessive maritime claims unsupported byinternational law. We can not and will not accept unilateral coercive changesto the status quo,” he said.
He affirmed that the US remainscommitted priority to Asia-Pacific where the country strives to develop tieswith allies.
On efforts to counter the DPRK’snuclear and missile development, he said the US will continue to increasediplomatic and economic pressure until Pyongyang finally and permanentlyabandons its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
According to him, the Trumpadministration is encouraged by China’s renewed commitment to work with theinternational community towards denuclearisation.
About security challenges from theself-claimed Islamic State (IS), the US side remains committed to leading theDefeat ISIS Coalition effort, and partnering with countries in the region,including Malaysia and Indonesia, to improve information sharing.
Defence officials from the US, Japanand Australia shared the view that political and diplomatic engagements andrespect to international law are key to ensuring regional security andprosperity.
Regarding the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), theyagreed that the bloc holds an important role in the regional securityarchitecture as well as in protecting the rules by law, while committing towork closely with ASEAN member countries in building strong and comprehensivesecurity architecture with ASEAN’s centrality.
Organised by the London-basedInternational Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the dialogue will bedivided into five sessions, focusing on the US and Asia-Pacific security, maintenanceof rules-based regional order, new challenges for crisis management inAsia-Pacific, building a common ground on regional security, threats to theglobal and regional security.-VNA
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